Press and mold operating apparatus



A ril 21, 1964 J. E. BORAH 3,129462 PRESS AND MOLD OPERATING APPARATUSFiled NOV. 18, 1960 I 8 Sheets-Sheet l JOHN E. BORAH ATTORNEY April 21,1964 J. E. BORAH 3,129,462

PRESS AND MOLD OPERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 18, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 2F 2 INVENTOR.

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AT TORNEY- April 21, 1964 J. E. BORAH PRESS AND MOLD OPERATING APPARATUS8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 18, 1960 INVENTOR. JOHN E. BORAH BY wayo zvATTORNEY April 21, 1964 J BORAH 3,129,462

PRESS AND MOLD OPERATING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 18, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 6FIG. 6

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INVENTOR.

JOHN E. BORAH ATTORNEY April 21, 1964 J, BORAH 3,129,462

PRESS AND MOLD OPERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 18, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 7987 FIG, 9

LIZ s4 INVENTOR. JOHN E. BORAH ATTORNEY A ril 21, 1964 J. E. BORAH PRESSAND MOLD OPERATING APPARATUS Filed Ndv. 18, 1960' 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG.H

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INVENTOR. JOHN E. BORAH BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,129,462 PRESSAND MOLD OPERATING APPARATUS John E. Borah, 815 Mishawaka Ave,Mishawaka, Ind. Filed Nov. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 70,156 Claims. (CI. 1816)The present invention relates to apparatus for molding articles fromrubber, plastic and similar materials, and more particularly to acombination press and mold operating mechanism.

In the conventional method of molding relatively long and/ or largearticles of rubber and rubber-like materials, compression molds areoften employed having upper and lower sections and one or more thickintermediate sections, either the upper or lower or both frequentlyhaving cores extending through or projecting into the cavities in theintermediate sections. These compression molds are usually fully orpartially assembled, returned bodily to molding position between thepress platens, and then removed bodily from the press after the moldingoperation has been completed. While moving the assembled mold to andfrom the press is a laborious, hot and often dangerous operation,separating the mold sections for removing the molded articles after themold has been removed from the press is equally as difiicult and moretime consuming, causing frequent turn-over of operating personnel, andhence further loss of time and expense in the overall operation. In someinstances the cavities are so shaped and the mold sections so large,that hammer and crowbar are necessary to pry the sections apart afterthe mold has been removed from the press, and a mallet and punch arerequired to remove the molded articles from the mold cavities. It isapparent that such operations are inherently slow, tedious and timeconsuming, resulting in excessive cost in producing the articles anddelay in completing orders. It is therefore one of the principal objectsof the present invention to provide a combination press and moldoperating apparatus in which the entire operation of assembling the moldsections, inserting the mold in and removing it from the press,separating the mold sections, and the removal of the molded articlesfrom the mold cavities, is performed semi-automatically and under powerwithout requiring any manual manipulating other than actuating thecontrol mechanism for the press and apparatus.

In the molding operation involving compression molds, flashings andother excess material adhere to the upper and lower mold sections,particularly when these sections contain cores or other protrusions, andmust be removed and the face of the respective mold sections properlylubricated before the next molding operation is performed. In theconventional method with the mold fully removed from the press, theupper mold section is often fully inverted when it is separated from theintermediate mold section, thus fully exposing the cores, cavity partsand adjacent surfaces to the operator and permitting easy inspection,cleaning and lubricating. This complete or partial inversion of theupper mold section is a further time consuming operation requiringappreciable physical eifort by the operator while the mold is hot. It isthus a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus whichseparates the upper mold section from the intermediate mold section whenthe mold is removed from the press, and so positions the upper moldsection that the surface thereof on which mold cavity parts and coresare located can be easily and effectively inspected, cleaned andlubricated preparatory for the next molding operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus forassembling, inserting and removing the mold into and from the press,disassembling the mold, and removing the molded articles from the press,which is so con st-ructed and arranged that it can be mounted onto mostconventional hydraulic or mechanical presses, either as originalequipment or after the press has been installed, without making anychanges in the basic construction and operation of the press and withoutmaking anyappreciable alterations for securing the apparatus to thepress.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a mold operatingapparatus which can be readily adapted to various makes of presses andto molds of various sizes and shapes, and which permits the press to beused in the conventional manner without first removing any parts of thepresent apparatus.

The present mold operating appartus permits effective utilization of thefull capacity of the press, regardless of the size or weight of the moldand mold sections; 'however, some articles are made only in small lotsat any one time and consequently large and more expensive molds normallyused in largequantity production operations can not be justified merelyfrom the economy of operation standpoint. It is therefore another objectof the invention to provide in an apparatus of the aforesaid type afeature which permits two or more molds for articles of different sizesand shapes to be molded simultaneously throughout each cycle of thepress operation, and which permits manipulation of the separate moldssimultaneously and without interference from the other mold or moldsinvolved in the operation.

A further object is to provide a dual mold, simultaneously operatingapparatus or" the aforesaid type which can be operated effectivelyeither in conjunction with two molds or with either of the two moldssingly, and which permits the apparatus to be shifted between the singleand dual operations without interfering with the normal press operatingcycle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact, safe andsimplycontrolled mold manipulating mechanism which can be operated fromthe press power system in individually manually controlled steps, .or ina completely automatically controlled cycle.

Additional objects .and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the :following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a conventional hydraulic .press havingmounted thereon my mold apparatus, the press and mold being shown inopen position;

FIGURE 2 :is a front ,elevational view of .the press shown in FIGUREl'having mounted thereon the present mold apparatus, with the pressand'mold being shown :in open position;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the press shown .in thepreceding figures with the present mold apparatus mounted .thereon, thepress and mold beingshown in closed position;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the .press and moldoperating apparatus shown in the preceding figures, taken on line 4-4 ofFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational View of a portion of the press and moldoperating apparatus showing the press, the apparatus and mold thereon inopen position;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view of one of thetracks for supporting an intermediate section of a mold, said sectionbeing taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view :of the press showingthe apparatus positioned at an intermediate step in the mold openingoperation;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary side elevat-ional view of the press showingthe apparatus at another step in the mold opening operation;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view of a threesectioned mold, showing the mold containing .a molded article in thecavity thereof prior to the mold opening operation;

FIGURE 10' is a vertical cross sectional view through the upper andintermediate sections of the mold shown in FIGURE 9, showing the twosections separated and illustrating the manner in which the moldedarticle is removed from the intermediate section;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the mold section separatingmeans showing the means by which the unit is attached to the uppersection of the mold;

FIGURE ;l2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the attaching meansshown in FIGURE 11, taken on line 12-12 of said latter figure;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary plan view of the mold separating uni-tshowing a safety catch;

FIGURE 14 is a vertical cross sectional view through the safety catchshown in FIGURE 13 taken on line 14-14 of said latter figure; and

FIGURE 15 is a side elevational view of a modified form for the portionof the present apparatus used in handling the intermediate mold section.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and to FIGURES l, 2 and 3 inparticular, numeral 26' designates generally a hydraulic press includinga base 22 containing the hydraulic cylinder with ram 24, ram platen 26,press head 28 and two heavy slab tie members 3i) and 32 rigid-1y securedat their lower portions to base 22 by a plurality of rods and nuts 34-and 36 and rigidly secured at their upper ends to head 28 by rods 38 andnuts 40, rods 34 and 38 extending completely through the base and thehead, respectively, and through the two slab members 30 and '32. Base 22contains ribs 42 and 44 interlocking with recesses 46 and 48, and head28 contains ribs 50 and 2 interlocking with recesses 54 and 56,respectively. The press is supported on and secured to a suitable basewith sill members 58 and 60 on the lower edges of slab members 30 and32, respec t-ively, resting on and being bolted to the support base. Thepress shown in the drawings is considered for the purpose of the presentdescription as a conventional hydraulic press controlled and operated bywell known hydraulic equipment, including a supply tank, electric drivenpressure pump, and standard control valves and relays (not shown). Thetype of press and the details in construction shown are included only tofully illustrate the construction and operation of the present moldapparatus and its adaptation to various types of presses. The apparatusis readily mountable on various types of presses without the necessityof any substantial modifications in either the apparatus or the press.

The present mold operating mechanism is designed primarily for use withcompression molds of various types which include at least oneintermediate section and an upper and lower section. The apparatus,however, may be used to assist in molding operations in which a transfermold is employed, the present specific description nevertheless beingdirected to the compression type mold having a single intermediatesection. Briefly, the compression mold shown in the drawings consists ofan upper section 70, an intermediate section 72, and a lower section 74,the particular compression mold shown having a plurality of moldcavities 76 for molding cylindrical sleeve type articles 80. Theprincipal part of the mold cavity 76 is contained in intermediatesection 72 extending from top to bottom therein and terminating in anupper recessed end portion 82 and a lower recessed end portion 84 inupper mold section 70 and lower mold section 74, respectively. Acylindrical core 86 for forming the hollow interior of article 80 isprovided for each mold cavity and is secured by a stem 88 to upper moldsection 70, the core being somewhat longer than the article 80, and theupper and lower ends 9t) and 92 thereof seating in recesses 94 and 96,respectively, in upper and lower mold sections 76} and 74. Stem 88 ofthe core is secured by a tight fit in upper mold section 70. An annulargroove 1% separated by a thin section of metal is provided around eachmold cavity on the upper side of intermediate mold section 72 tofacilitate severance of the flashing from the molded article. When thefore-going mold is opened, the upper section 70 is removed, drawingcores 86 from the longitudinal hole through articles 80, and leaving thearticles in the cavities in intermediate section 72. After lower section74 has been withdrawn or otherwise separated from intermediate section72, the molded articles are ejected from their respective cavities inintermediate section 72 in the manner hereinafiter more fully described.

After the articles have been removed from intermediate section 72,sections 72 and 74 are again reassembled in the positions shown inFIGURE 9, and while section 7% and core 86 are fully withdrawn fromsections 72 and 74, a slug of rubber or other moldable material isdropped into cavity 76. Section 70 and cores 86 are then reassembled inposition on sections 72 and 74, and the assembled mold with the uncuredrubber is placed in the press and the press closed. The mold is thenplaced under high pressure and maintained at an elevated temperature fora sufiicient time to cause the rubber to fully till the cavity aroundcore 86 and to cure and form a relatively firm article 80. The excessrubber introduced with the slug flows through the very small spacebetween mold sections 70 and 72 into groove 100, providing only anextremely thin film connecting the surface of article with the materialformed in groove res, thus permitting this excess material to be readilyremoved from the article after the mold has been opened. In the moldshown in FIGURE 9, flashing remaining in groove 1% is severed from thearticle as the article is removed from the mold cavity in the mannershown in FIGURE 10. The operation of the mold, the sequence of operationthereof, and operating conditions just described are standard operatingprocedures performed in any normal rubber molding operation using acompression mold. These operations are performed manually and the moldis necessarily limited in size, often with only a small number ofcavities capable of being handled physically by one or two pressoperators. The present mold operating apparatus makes the foregoingoperations at least semi-automatic and permits a single operator toperform the molding operation, regardless of the size of the mold ornumber of cavities in any particular mold.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in detail in the drawings, thelower mold section 74 is secured to and supported by an adapter plateresting on the upper side of ram platen 26 and having projecting edges 11-2 and 114 extending into inwardly facing grooves 116 and 118 ofhorizontally disposed tracks 120 and 122. Tracks 126 and 122 are securedto and supported by ram platen 26 and move therewith from the positionshown in FIGURE 2 to the position shown in FIGURE 3. The lower surfacesof grooves 116 and 118 are substantially on a plane with the uppersurface of ram platen 26 so that plate 116 will form a firm contact withram platen 26 for optimum heat transfer, and will permit extensions 1'12and 114 to slide readily into and along grooves 116 and 1 18 when themold is removed from the press.

The apparatus shown in the drawings is of the dual type adapted to havetwo complete molds operable simultaneously, both during the moldingoperation and during the article removing operation. Since the two moldsare basically the same in construction and operation, and the apparatusfor operating the molds are the same in construction and operation, onemold and the parts thereof and the apparatus for operating the mold willbe given one numeral and the corresponding parts of the other mold andoperating apparatus will be given the same number with a primedesignation, and the description of the identical sets of parts will notbe duplicated.

Lower mold section 74 and supporting plate 110 are moved outwardly ontracks 120 and 122 by a pair of cylinders 130 and 132 on opposite sidesof the press carried up and down with the ram platen 26 by crossbars 133and 133. Operating in cylinders 138 and 132 are pistons (not shown)connected to mold section 74 by piston rods 134 and 136, respectively,and a lateral member 137 secured to mold section 74 by a plurality ofbolts 138 and to piston rods 134 and 136 by nuts 140 and 142 threadedlyreceived on the ends of the piston rods and clamping the ends of crossmember 137 against an annular shoulder on each rod. Cylinders 130 and132 are connected at their two ends to the hydraulic system by suitableconduits (not shown). Mold sections 74 and 74' are moved between theirpositions in the mold as shown in full lines in FIGURE 4 to thepositions removed from the press as illustrated for mold section 74 insaid figure by cylinders 138' and 132 and 130 and 132, respectively.

Intermediate mold section 72 is supported by laterally disposedhorizontal tracks 1'58 and 152 having inwardly facing longitudinalgrooves 154 and 156 for receiving laterally extending members 158 and160 secured to or formed integrally with the sides of mold section 72.Tracks 156 and 152 are supported by four cylinder and piston units 162,164, 166 and 168 mounted rigidly on slab members 36 and 32 by supports162', 164', 166' and 168', each unit consisting of a cylinder and apiston connected with the respective tracks 150 and 152 by reciprocatingrods 170, 172, 174 and 176. The cylinders are hydraulically operated inthe downward direction and are connected to a hydraulic system andcontrols through conduits (not shown). Mold section 72 is moved alongthe supporting track by cylinders 130 and 132 while the intermediatemold section 72 and lower mold section 74 are retained together in themanner shown in FIGURE 9 by interlocking dowel pins and holes (notshown). However, when the mold sections 72 and 74 have been separated,mold section 72 can be moved manually along its track to and from thepress. The mold is stopped in its extended position by a pin 178 in oneor both of grooves 116 and 118.

During the mold removal operation, all three sections 70, 72 and 74 areremoved from the press along tracks 120 and 122 and 150 and 152 whilethe three sections are fully closed. After the sections have beenremoved from the press to the position shown in FIGURES 4 and 7, theupper section 70 is removed from section 72 by mold separating unit 180,consisting of a plate 182 having attachment means 184 and 186 thereonfor engaging and lifting upper section 70 from section 72. The plate 182is raised and lowered by a cylinder and piston unit 188 operatingreciprocating rod 190, the lower end of which is rigidly secured toplate 182. Unit 180 is rigidly mounted on the press by a support bracket192 consisting of beam like member 194 projecting outwardly from thefront of the press and supported on and connected to head 28 by braces196 and 198, unit 188 being preferably adjustable along member 194 toadapt the unit to various sized molds. Cylinder 180 is connected to ahydraulic system and suitable controls by conduits (not shown) for poweroperation, both upwardly and down wardly. A pair of safety catches 280and 202 pivotably mounted on plate 182 are preferably provided toeliminate any possibility of the upper mold section slipping andaccidentally becoming disconnected from plate 182 while the mold sectionis being held in its raised position.

The mold attachment means 184 and 186, the details of which are shown inFIGURES 11 and 12, each consists of a shaft 2:10 having an enlargedthreaded lower end 212 for threading into a hole 214 in mold section 70.

The lower end is provided with a pointed section 216 in order tofacilitate alignment of shaft 210 with hole the lower side of whichrests on and is secured to plate 182. An enlarged hole 228 is providedin plate 182 to permit the threaded end 212 of shaft 210 to fullyretract from threaded hole 214 of mold section 7 0, and the upper end ofshaft 210 projects above block 218 and has rigid-1y secured thereon ahandwheel 222 to assist in threadedly engaging shaft 218 with the moldsection 70. The safety latches 200 and 292 are identical in constructionand operation, each consisting of a hook 224 having an inwardlyextending portion 226 for engaging the lower side of mold section 70 andbeing pivotably supported at its upper end on a pin 228 which in turn isrigidly supported by bifurcated bracket 230 welded or otherwise securedto the upper surface of plate 182. Normally safety catches 200 and 2112remain in the position shown in FIGURE 14 while the mold section 70 isbeing lifted, i.e. with the inwardly projecting end portion 226disengaged from section 70. In the event, however, attachment means 184and 186 should not be properly engaged when the mold separating unit 180is operated, hooks 224 of the two safety catches will become effectiveand retain mold section 70 in place beneath plate 182. When it isdesired to release mold section 70 from plate 182, the hooks of the twosafety catches are readily swung laterally on their pivot pins untilinwardly projecting end portion 226 has fully cleared the underside ofsection 70, permitting plate 182 to be returned to its raised positionby the operation of hydraulic cylinder 188.

In illustrating the operation of the present press and mold operatingapparatus, one complete cycle of operation will be described, startingwith the press and mold closed, as shown in FIGURE 3, with a full chargeof moldable material in the mold. When the mold has remained in closedposition under the required compression and temperature to fully curethe rubber or other moldable material in the mold, the press controlsare actuated to retract ram 24 downwardly. During the initial part ofthis opening operation, the entire mold, consisting of upper section 70,intermediate section 72 and lower section 74, and tracks and 122 and 150and 152 move downwardly in unison with the ram. Cylinders 130, 132 and132 being supported on cross members 133 and 133' also move downwardlywith the ram. This downward movement is arrested by the operator whenrods 170, 172 and 174 and 176 have moved downwardly to their full extentas shown in FIGURES 2, 5, 7, and 8. At this stage of the operation, thethree mold sections are still fully closed. The operator now actuatesthe proper control (not shown) for energizing cylinders 130 and 132,thereby moving the entire mold outwardly from the press along tracks120, 122, and 152 to the position shown in FIGURE 7. Ram 24 is nowretracted to its fully lowered position, carrying with it tracks 120 and122 and lower mold section '74, leaving mold sections 70 and 72suspended on tracks 150 and 152 supported in this position by rods and174 and 172 and 176 respectively.

Mold separating unit is now actuated, causing plate 182'to movedownwardly until it rests upon the upper part of upper mold 70 with moldattachment means 184 and 186 in position to threadedly engage moldsection 70 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 12. After these two moldattachment means have been threadedly secured to plate 70, hydrauliccylinder 188 is operated to lift mold section 70 into the position shownin FIGURES 2 and 5. Safety hooks 224 automatically latch in the positionshown in FIGURE 14 when plate 182 is moved downwardly into engagementwith the upper surface of mold section 70. After mold sections 72 and 74have been fully separated by retraction of ram 24, as prevouslydescribed, cylinders 130 and 132 are actuated to retract rods 134 and136 and cross member 137, thereby returning mold section -74 into thepress, as seen in FIGURE 5. With mold section 70 held suspended by plate182, and mold section 72 in its extended position on tracks 150 and 152,hydraulic cylinder 188 is actuated to lower plate 182 and upper moldsection 70, causing cores 86 to engage the upper end of articles 80 andfurther movement of plate 182 and section 70 presses the articlesdownwardly from cavities 7 6 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 10. Thefact that cores 86 will not readily re-enter the cylindrical openingformed thereby in articles 30, permits the cores to be used as knock-outpins for removing articles 89 from their respective cavities.

After articles 30 have been removed from their cavities in intermediatemold section 72, section 7% is again raised to its upper position asshown in FIGURES 2 and lower section 74 is again moved outwardly alongtracks 120 and 122 to its position directly beneath mold section '72;and ram 24 is operated to move section 74 into engagement with the lowersurface of section 72 as shown in FIGURE 7. With sections 72 and 74 inthe closed position and section 70 still held in its raised position byunit 180, new charges of moldable raw material are dropped in thecavities by the operator, and mold section '79 is thereafter lowered toits position on section 72. With the mold fully charged and closed inthe foregoing manner, cylinders 130 and 132 are actuated to retract rods134 and 136 and cross member 137 to return the entire mold into thepress on ram platen 26. The ram is now operated to close the press tothe position shown in FIGURE 3 for molding and curing the materialforming the articles 83, the entire cycle now being completed and readyto be repeated in the manner herein described, as soon as the new chargehas cured.

In some molds the core pins are either too small or too short toeffectively remove articles 8%} from cavities 76 in the manner describedand illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10. When this situation exists, theforegoing operation is modified to the extent of using a separateknockout mechanism in place of the upper mold section and core pin,consisting of a plate similar to the upper mold section and containing aplurality of pins similar to cores 85. This mechanism which ispreferably constructed entirely of wood, including the wooden dowel pinsfor the knockout pins, is attached to the underside of plate 182 by anysuitable securing means such as bolts or screws. In the operation ofthis type of knockout mechanism, upper section 70 is removed manually orby the press. Preferably, upper mold section 79 is secured to theunderside of the upper platen and the intermediate and lower moldsections are separated from the upper section during the initial stagesof the press opening operation. With this arrangement, after the uppermold section has been separated from the intermediate and lower moldsections, the latter two sections are moved outwardly along tracks 12%),122, 150 and 152 to their fully removed position, as shown in FIGURES 7and 8, and the lower mold section is separated from the intermediatesection in the manner previously described. The knockout mechanism isthen actuated to lower the wooden knockout pins downwardly against theupper ends of articles 89, and further movement of the knockoutmechanism causes the pins to move downwardly into the cavity and ejectthe articles therefrom. After the articles have been removed from theirrespective cavities, the knockout mechanism is returned to its raisedposition and the mold is reassembled, loaded and returned to the press,and all three sections are fully closed in the conventional manner.

It is sometimes necessary at least to partially invert the intermediatemold section in order to remove the formed articles and to clean themold cavities. FIGURE illustrates a convenient means for partiallyinverting the intermediate section, consisting of a rod 250 supported byand between tracks 15% and 152 below the respective grooves therein andone or more hooks 252 attached to the trailing edge of the mold or moldsupport. When the mold is pulled outwardly from the grooves in thetracks, the hooks engage rod 250 and permit the mold section to swingdownwardly to the vertical position shown. With the mold in thisposition, the underside can be easily reached for removing articles andcleaning the cavities.

While the apparatus and the steps forming the procedures set forthherein may be performed automatically without any manual manipulationsbeing required, each step can be performed by the direct control of theoperator, and various portions of the operation can be used Withoutperforming every step of the operation. For example, mold separatingunit 18th for ejecting the articles may be rendered inoperable and thearticles removed by hand or by some other mechanical means, if desired.Further, the entire mechanism can be, in effect, rendered inoperative ifdesired, so that the press can be used as a conventional press, withoutinterference from the present mold operating apparatus. Various changesand modifications rnay be made in the present mold apparatus withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A mold operating and article ejecting apparatus for use inconjunction with a press having a vertical movable ram, a stationaryhead above the ram, platens operatively connected to the ram and head,and with a pair of compression molds having upper, intermediate andlower sections with cavities extending through the intermediate sectionand cores on said upper section extending into said cavities, saidapparatus comprising a pair of spaced parallel rails mounted on oppositesides of said ram platen and extending from the press on opposite sidesand having inwardly facing grooves, members connected to the lowersection of each mold and projecting into said grooves, hydrauliccylinder units positioned along opposite sides of the press andconnected to each lower mold section for moving said sections from thepress along said rails on opposide sides, a pair of horizontallydisposed vertically movable rails above said first pair of rails spacedlaterally from one another and extending from the press on oppositesides and having inwardly facing grooves, members supporting both saidintermediate and upper mold sections connected to the intermediatesection of each mold and projecting into the grooves of said secondmentioned rails for movement therealong into and from the press, a pairof vertical shafts spaced along each of said second mentioned rails andprojecting toward the head of the press, hydraulic units connected toeach of said shafts for urging the respective rails downwardly,vertically reciprocable plungers on opposite sides of the press, meansfor removably attaching said plungers to the upper section of each moldwhen the molds are removed from the press on said rails, andhydraulically operated units connected to the upper end of said plungersfor lifting said upper mold sections and withdrawing said cores from themolded articles and thereafter lowering said sections to eject themolded articles from their cavities.

2. A mold operating apparatus for use in conjunction with a press havinga vertically movable ram, a stationary head above the ram, platensoperatively connected to the ram and head, and with a pair ofcompression molds having upper, intermediate and lower sections withcavities extending through the intermediate section, said apparatuscomprising a pair of spaced parallel rails mounted on opposite sides ofsaid ram platen and extending from the press on opposite sides andhaving inwardly facing grooves, members connected to the lower sectionof each mold and projecting into said grooves, power means dis posedalong each side of the press and connected to each lower mold sectionfor moving said sections from the press along said rails on oppositesides, a pair of horizontally disposed vertically movable rails abovesaid first pair of rails spaced laterally from one another and extendingfrom the press on opposite sides and having inwardly facing grooves,members supporting both said intermediate and upper mold sectionsconnected to the intermediate section of each mold and projecting intothe groovesof said second mentioned rails for movement therealong intoand from the press, a pair of vertical shafts spaced along each of saidsecond mentioned rails, power units connected to each of said shaft forurging the respective rails downwardly, lift members on opposite sidesof the press, means for removably attaching said lift members to theupper section of each mold when the molds are removed from the press onsaid rails, and power operated units connected to said lift member forraising and lowering said upper mold sections.

3. A mold operating and article ejecting apparatus for use inconjunction with a press having a vertically movable ram, a stationaryhead above the ram, and with a compression mold having upper,intermediate and lower sections with cavities extending through theintermediate section and cores on said upper section extending into saidcavities, said apparatus comprising a pair of horizontally disposedvertically movable rails spaced laterally from one another and extendingfrom the press and having inwardly facing grooves, members supportingboth said intermediate and upper mold sections connected to theintermediate mold section and projecting into the grooves of said railsfor movement therealong into and fromthe press, a pair of verticalshafts spaced along each of said rails, power units connected to each ofsaid shafts for urging the respective rails downwardly, a verticallyreciprocable lift member, means for removably attaching said lift memberto the upper mold section, and a power operated unit connected to theupper end of said lift member for lifting said upper mold section andwithdrawing said cores from the molded articles and thereafter loweringsaid section to eject the molded articles from their cavities.

4. A mold operating apparatus for use in conjunction with a press havinga vertically movable ram, a stationary head above the ram, and with acompression mold having upper, intermediate and lower sections withcavities extending through the intermediate section, said apparatuscomprising a pair of spaced parallel rails mounted on opposite sides ofsaid ram and extending from the press, members connected to the lowermold section and engaging said rails, power means disposed along eachside of the press and connected to the lower mold section for movingsaid section from the press along said rails, a pair of horizontallydisposed vertically movable rails above said first pair of rails spacedlaterally from one another and extending from the press in the samedirection as said first mentioned rails, members supporting both saidintermediate and upper mold sections connected to the intermediate moldsection and engaging said second mentioned rails for movement therealonginto and from the press, a pair of vertical shafts spaced along each ofsaid second mentioned rails for supporting said rails, a verticallyreciprocable lift member, means for removably attaching said lift memberto the upper mold section, and a power operated unit connected to theupper end of said lift member for raising and lowering said upper moldsection.

5. In a mold operating apparatus for use in conjunction with a presshaving a vertically movable ram, a stationary head above the ram, andwith a pair of compression molds having upper, intermediate and lowersections with cavities extending through the intermediate section, saidapparatus comprising a pair of spaced parallel rails mounted on oppositesides of said ram and extending from the press on opposite sides,members connected to the lower section of each mold and engaging saidrails, power means disposed along each side of the press and connectedto each lower mold section for moving said sections from the press alongsaid rails on opposite sides, a pair of horizontally disposed verticallymovable rails above said first pair of rails spaced laterally from oneanother and extending from the press on opposite sides, memberssupporting both said intermediate and upper mold sections connected tothe intermediate section of each mold and engaging said second mentionedrails for movement therealong into and from the press, a pair ofvertical shafts spaced along each of said second mentioned rails, andpower units connected to each of said shafts for urging the respectiverails downwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,387,617 Roberts Aug. 16, 1921 2,239,248 Rieser Apr. 22, 1941 2,289,102Clark July 7, 1942 2,412,671 Brunner et al Dec. 17, 1946 2,718,030Collins Sept. 20, 1955 2,778,765 Dym Jan. 22, 1957 2,910,727 Salbeck etal. Nov. 3, 1959 2,983,953 Borah May 16, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 412,572Great Britain June 21, 1934

5. IN A MOLD OPERATING APPARATUS FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A PRESSHAVING A VERTICALLY MOVABLE RAM, A STATIONARY HEAD ABOVE THE RAM, ANDWITH A PAIR OF COMPRESSION MOLDS HAVING UPPER, INTERMEDIATE AND LOWERSECTIONS WITH CAVITIES EXTENDING THROUGH THE INTERMEDIATE SECTION, SAIDAPPARATUS COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL RAILS MOUNTED ON OPPOSITESIDES OF SAID RAM AND EXTENDING FROM THE PRESS ON OPPOSITE SIDES,MEMBERS CONNECTED TO THE LOWER SECTION OF EACH MOLD AND ENGAGING SAIDRAILS, POWER MEANS DISPOSED ALONG EACH SIDE OF THE PRESS AND CONNECTEDTO EACH LOWER MOLD SECTION FOR MOVING SAID SECTIONS FROM THE PRESS ALONGSAID RAILS ON OPPOSITE SIDES, A PAIR OF HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED VERTICALLYMOVABLE RAILS ABOVE SAID FIRST PAIR OF RAILS SPACED LATERALLY FROM ONEANOTHER AND EXTENDING FROM THE PRESS ON OPPOSITE SIDES, MEMBERSSUPPORTING BOTH SAID INTERMEDIATE AND UPPER MOLD SECTIONS CONNECTED TOTHE INTERMEDIATE SECTION OF EACH MOLD AND ENGAGING SAID SECOND MENTIONEDRAILS FOR MOVEMENT THEREALONG INTO AND FROM THE PRESS, A PAIR OFVERTICAL SHAFTS SPACED ALONG EACH OF SAID SECOND MENTIONED RAILS, ANDPOWER UNITS CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID SHAFTS FOR URGING THE RESPECTIVERAILS DOWNWARDLY.